Gregg contends that a fin on his Channel Islands board cut a “deep gash” on his right leg when he wiped out off the coast of France in 2009. He said the fin severed muscles in his leg and caused injuries so severe that he will never regain full muscle strength in the injured leg.

“The surfboard, fins and their component parts were unsafe for their intended use,” Gregg said in the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Scott Anderson, general manager of Carpinteria-based Channel Islands, said it’s the first product-liability lawsuit filed against the company that he’s heard about. “I’ve been here 20 years and I haven’t seen one,” he said.

Anderson declined further comment.

Gregg’s attorney, Jeffrey Karpel, said the fins are so sharp some surfers cover them with protective sleeves. Gregg was not aware of that before the injury, Karpel said.